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Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine achieves 7,000 SDD ground test hours
January 25, 2007 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine exceeded 7,000 system design and development (SDD) ground test hours this week.
This achievement, in addition to the 3,600 test hours accumulated during the F-35 concept demonstration program, puts the total engine test program hours logged at more than 10,000.
"This testing landmark starts off what we expect to be a very productive and successful year for the F135 engine program," said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine program for Pratt & Whitney. "In 2006 we logged more than 2,500 test hours on the F135 and we're even more optimistic about 2007. Our first priority is to exceed our customers' expectations by assuring the flawless performance of the F135 STOVL variant."
Achieving 7,000 SDD ground test hours is one of a series of milestones for the F135 propulsion system. On December 15, the F135 powered the F-35 Lightning II's successful first flight. Flying at 15,000 feet, the first flight test verified F135's integrated flight control systems and its ability to power all of the aircraft's hydraulic and electrical components. In the first and two subsequent F-35 flight tests to date, the F135 engine returned to base with all systems operating normally.
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 800,000 hours before the F-35's introduction into operational service in 2012. Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built.
The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine exceeded 7,000 system design and development (SDD) ground test hours
"This testing landmark starts off what we expect to be a very productive and successful year for the F135 engine program," said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine program for Pratt & Whitney. "In 2006 we logged more than 2,500 test hours on the F135 and we're even more optimistic about 2007. Our first priority is to exceed our customers' expectations by assuring the flawless performance of the F135 STOVL variant."
Achieving 7,000 SDD ground test hours is one of a series of milestones for the F135 propulsion system. On December 15, the F135 powered the F-35 Lightning II's successful first flight. Flying at 15,000 feet, the first flight test verified F135's integrated flight control systems and its ability to power all of the aircraft's hydraulic and electrical components. In the first and two subsequent F-35 flight tests to date, the F135 engine returned to base with all systems operating normally.
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 800,000 hours before the F-35's introduction into operational service in 2012. Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built.
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- Mighty F-35 Lightning II engine roars to life ( 2006-09-20)
- Pratt & Whitney F135 program reaches 5,000 SDD test hours ( 2006-04-24)
- Pratt & Whitney logs 4,000 SDD test hours on F135 engine for F-35 JSF ( 2005-11-30)
- Pratt & Whitney's F135 program surpasses 2,500 SDD test hours ( 2005-03-22)
- Pratt & Whitney's F135 program completes 1,000th test hour ( 2004-09-30)
- F-35 Lightning II news archive
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